Treebones is the name locals gave to the old wood recycling mill that used to occupy this unusual triangle of land, surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest and the Pacific. The previous owner had a deal with the US government to haul in dead wood from around the mountainsides to be sawed and recycled into usable timber.

The eco friendly, recycling ethos has been taken forward by the new owners who created Treebones resort: a couple who fell in love with the area and originally wanted to build a house here, but due to the strict building restrictions in place, commuted that desire to creating a kind of lodge and camp ground. They took 10 years to lay out the site, build the central communal yurt with a huge log fire on one side and 60ft outside breakfast bar facing the sea (made from one solid piece of timber found already felled on site). The 12 bedroom yurts (that come complete with little stoves and v comfy beds) are laid out on the hills around the central hub at various heights and sizes with pine forest gathered around

. The pool and hot tub are heated by power generated on site, the kitchen is full of fruit and veg grown in the garden and they even have a sushi bar!!! All these factors along with the super friendly and chilled staff (and few guests!) conspired to create a cool, calm and serene atmosphere that we immediately snuggled into.

We could have easily spent the week here but only had the one full day to explore, so after eating our self-made breakfast waffles (see photo) and cereal in the dining yurt, headed off back into the village where Kerry could get a mobile signal and tell her mum and best friend that Jez had finally got off his arse and taken her off the market!

The novelty of having a drop-top had definitely not worn off yet, so, still feeling like superstars we cruised slowly around the bends, digging the views we missed in the darkness the night before and realising how close we had been to plummeting to our deaths if I made a boo boo after my glass of vino and the general excitement. In a lot of places the road literally ends in a sheer drop of a few hundred feet on the far side of the crash barrier. Stunning to look at in the reassuring daylight though.

We stopped at the only petrol station in Big Sur, which doubles as the Big Sur Bakery and filled up while Kez made a couple of calls, then sped off to have a look at Julia Pfeiffer Burns National Park where the McWay Falls crashes down onto the beach and the azure water swirling around the cove looks so inviting

Back to Treebones and a couple of beers by the pool and generally relaxing in the gorgeous mountain setting with the Pacific glinting over yonder. After an aborted attempt to climb up through the bush opposite the resort onto the top of a high ridge for a shot, we hunkered down back at the yurt, sat out on the balcony and cracked open a bottle of champers that Mr Fullard had kindly bought us to celebrate. What an awesome view which became all the more amazing as A) The sun went down, creating a mad fireworks display in the sky and B) the champers took it's glorious effect.

We sashayed on up to the dining yurt for a lamb tagine and a couple of Kirin and then retired early, tired but happy.